Flaws said she regularly caught the Birkenhead bus, which Gotingco had taken home from central Auckland on Saturday evening.

She said the random nature of the disappearance was particularly frightening.

"It's quite scary that she was taken off the street," she said.

"I'll be very vigilant about walking home late at night or letting my daughters walk around at night.

"Sadly I don't feel safe around here anymore."

STREET 'REALLY SCARY, TOO DARK'

Filipino entertainer Russell Siayngco said he was sad about Gotingco's alleged murder and was now worried about his own family.

Siayngco was a member of North Shore-based group Filipianz.

''We are very, very sad about what has happened," he said.

Siayngco lived in Hillcrest, less than 3km from the cemetery where police found the body.

Siayngco regularly went down Salisbury Rd on his way to a friend's house. He last passed through two weeks ago and said the street was dangerous.

''It's really scary, it's too dark.''

Siayngco said he was worried about his family and they were being very careful.

He picked his wife up from work because he said it was safer than using public transport.

His sister-in-law regularly caught the bus home as late as 11pm or midnight and was now much more aware of her safety, Siayngco said.

SCREAM HEARD

Neighbours said they heard a high-pitched scream followed by a car driving off at the site where Gotingco's belongings were found.

She had left work at Tower Insurance, in Auckland's downtown Fanshawe St, in a rush at 7pm, police said.

Yesterday police had appealed for information about two items that Gotingco had with her when she disappeared - her reading glasses and a distinctive Omega watch with a mother-of-pearl face surrounded by diamonds.